I can't believe I'm doing this...

almcneal

I agree that it makes a huge difference once you make yourself accountable by logging your food, but also be sure to log your drinks. It's amazing how many calories are hidden in things that we don't think would have them. Milk, juice, vitamins. They all have some, so the more truthful you are to yourself with the logging, the more you will benefit from this site. Also, friends on this site are awesome. A great support system. Feel free to add me. I am on here daily.

SyntonicGarden

Thanks to all of you... My excuse is I have kids... So what does it mean? Candy and cookies... Plus night visits to "that" cabinet...

Don't get discouraged. It's going to take you a few days to first become aware of what you're eating and then to adjust your habits and portions. You've had an entire lifetime to create bad habits, so don't be frustrated if they're not easy to change overnight.

If I can make a few suggestions...

- Since you have kids, buy stuff they like but that you don't like.

- Or... Try to get your kids to eat healthier and cut down on the amount of crap in the house. This'll help cut down on your binge eating and will help you to raise kids who have healthier eating habits.

- Log EVERYTHING. It'll really open your eyes, help you see your trends and cycles, and give you a better idea of how you can help yourself.

- Add friends on here. Especially supportive and encouraging ones. They'll provide a support system and multiple voices of reason when you're staring down the cupcakes you had to make for a bake sale or the leftover Easter candy.

- Ease your way into better eating.

There's a lot of talk on here about eating at 1200 calories. 1200 apparently works for some people, but I think you'd be easily discouraged and hungry as all heck if you started that low right out of the gate.

If you've been eating a certain way for all of these years, jumping down to 1200 is just a recipe for disaster, especially with where you're currently at. I'm not a dietician, nor do I pretend to be, but I can tell you from personal experience, I was miserable when I went from where I had been eating down to 1200. Instead, consider looking into easing your way into this, maybe by eating at TDEE, then TDEE-15% and then down to 1200 if you feel you need to get down that low.

For more info on TDEE and how to calculate it, you can either look up TDEE on google, or visit a neat site called fitnessfrog.com

I wish you the very best on your journey and am glad you're here.

beekuzz

Candy I'm safe from... I have my sugarfree chewing gum...

Cookies? That's another story... I should get rid of them, but I should also learn to live with them and not succumb... No? *is lost*

I cannot have any doughnuts around me. They are banned from the house. other than that, very lucky to not be a grazer. Keep the sweets out of the house and away from the kids. I was always a skinny kid that could eat anything. But then all of a sudden, I was starting at myself in the mirror and I looked just like my grandmother, who was very heavy. I have a familial double chin even when skinny, so the extra 100 lbs really blew that up on me.

So happy that you are here for support. You're through the hardest part which is admitting you need to do something about it. Feel free to friend me if you wish. My name is Lisa.

Andreake08

I'm logging absolutely EVERYTHING... I've cheated enough in my life with food...

I'm gonna check that TDEE thing, since I pretty much have no idea of what it is... :P

Andreake08

Got it!! 1825 cal... So, if I'm understanding this correctly, as long as I'm under that I'll loose weight? Amazing...

Menecairiel

Just stay strong and remember: we're all in this together! *starts dancing*

Seriously, I started a week ago. Got my weigh day tomorrow. And the problem for me is, like with you...sweet things. And chips. And stuff I only get a few times a year but overindulge in. I also work in a place where everyone brings in sweet treats.

I thought I was a bit naughty, but not too bad...until I started counting up things. Even my favourite take away pizza is now officially off the menu and my mind (it's all my calories. For a whole day. ALL OF THEM!!!!)

So be strong, remember why you're doing this and remember that there's a lot of people on the forum to support you!!!

michellekicks

Got it!! 1825 cal... So, if I'm understanding this correctly, as long as I'm under that I'll loose weight? Amazing...

Every day's deficit adds up towards pounds lost. It takes 3500 calories to lose a pound. If you eat at about 1475 calories/day, you should lose 1 lb every 10 days. That's a safe rate of loss without exercise. If you want to lose a bit faster, burn a bit more... aim to burn 200 calories/day in exercise and then you can lose 1 lb per week.

I know that seems slow... but if it's manageable, you're WAY more likely to stick to it. In 6 months you'll be thrilled at the results.

Andreake08

Thank you!!!

Menecairiel

Thank you!!!

I take it you managed the night without the cabinet?

marinebiologist_girl

I know from experience the first step is realising. I'd be glad to encourage you - we're aiming for roughly the same weight.

SigningMomma

Hi Andrea,

Welcome!! I am also post gastric-bypass. I had my bypass 5 years ago this past June. A year later, I had lost 141 lbs and was 30 lbs away from my goal when I was in a car accident. That lost my momentum to finish up my last 6 months of the 18 month window to lose as much as I could before my body started to adjust to my new stomach. Six months later, when I was finally able to start to exercise again, I got pregnant. I was thrilled to be pregnant with my second child, and while I couldn't do vigorous exercise, I made it my priority to walk every day. I did NOT want to go back to where I was.

I did well through my first trimester, but I started to have problems when walking so my doctor told me to stop walking. Panic set in for me - I was petrified. In my second trimester, I had another issue where the pregnancy and bypass caused an intestinal blockage and required surgery. I was 7 months pregnant. Again, I could walk around but definitely no exercise.

Fast forward to after Eric was born, I breastfed him for 6 momths and for every month I breastfed him, I gained weight. In the end, I ended up 45 lbs higher than my lowest weight. I was not happy with that at all, but didn't really do anything about it. I sulked and that was about it.

Then my mom died a year and a half ago. Add on 15 lbs.

So here I am, feeling stupid that I couldn't keep the weight off after gastric bypass and not knowing what to do to get it off. So I joined MFP and am keeping my self honest by charting everything. I am exercising every day - doing Leslie Sansone's Walk at Home videos, I am taking walks with my kids at night. I have replaced all of the junk food in the house with healthy snacks - fruits, veggies cut up and perfect for dipping in hummus (instead of a sour cream based dip), apples and oranges and bananas, etc.

I guess what I'm trying to say is - I'm here with ya! I will help keep you honest if you do the same for me. Please feel free to friend me. And anyone else who would like to friend me as well!

Enjoy the day!
Dawn

Edit: I keep telling myself over and over - I'm still ahead of the game. I am still 90 lbs down from the bypass and I am no longer a diabetic AND I have my baby Eric... so the bypass was a huge success for me!

Andreake08

Thank you!!!

I take it you managed the night without the cabinet?

Ha! I only ate four bread sticks... Better than cookies, but still... Tonight, NO CABINET!!!

Andreake08

I know from experience the first step is realising. I'd be glad to encourage you - we're aiming for roughly the same weight.

Cool!!! We can do it TOGETHER!!!

Andreake08

Hi Andrea,

Welcome!! I am also post gastric-bypass. I had my bypass 5 years ago this past June. A year later, I had lost 141 lbs and was 30 lbs away from my goal when I was in a car accident. That lost my momentum to finish up my last 6 months of the 18 month window to lose as much as I could before my body started to adjust to my new stomach. Six months later, when I was finally able to start to exercise again, I got pregnant. I was thrilled to be pregnant with my second child, and while I couldn't do vigorous exercise, I made it my priority to walk every day. I did NOT want to go back to where I was.

I did well through my first trimester, but I started to have problems when walking so my doctor told me to stop walking. Panic set in for me - I was petrified. In my second trimester, I had another issue where the pregnancy and bypass caused an intestinal blockage and required surgery. I was 7 months pregnant. Again, I could walk around but definitely no exercise.

Fast forward to after Eric was born, I breastfed him for 6 momths and for every month I breastfed him, I gained weight. In the end, I ended up 45 lbs higher than my lowest weight. I was not happy with that at all, but didn't really do anything about it. I sulked and that was about it.

Then my mom died a year and a half ago. Add on 15 lbs.

So here I am, feeling stupid that I couldn't keep the weight off after gastric bypass and not knowing what to do to get it off. So I joined MFP and am keeping my self honest by charting everything. I am exercising every day - doing Leslie Sansone's Walk at Home videos, I am taking walks with my kids at night. I have replaced all of the junk food in the house with healthy snacks - fruits, veggies cut up and perfect for dipping in hummus (instead of a sour cream based dip), apples and oranges and bananas, etc.

I guess what I'm trying to say is - I'm here with ya! I will help keep you honest if you do the same for me. Please feel free to friend me. And anyone else who would like to friend me as well!

Enjoy the day!
Dawn

Edit: I keep telling myself over and over - I'm still ahead of the game. I am still 90 lbs down from the bypass and I am no longer a diabetic AND I have my baby Eric... so the bypass was a huge success for me!

Hi Dawn!

OMG, what a story... I can relate to almost everything...

I hope I can help you too, because I really believe support is key!

Hugs,

Andrea

Andreake08

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, I'm back... :P